Customer Reviews

A Dog Year: Twelve Months, Four Dogs, and Me

5 star:		(91)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(14)

 

 

If you have not already read this book, I would recommend you read the reviews for the book which chronicles the end of Orson's life (the gorgeous dog on the front cover. In A Dog Year you are introduced to Katz's pet project - Orson. We are lead to believe that Orson (aka Devon) is Katz's soulmate and Katz is the person who can save the poor troubled and mis-handled Orson. Although I somewhat enjoyed a Dog Year, I was worried that Katz had taken on something he didn't understand. Orson's final book - A Good Dog - proved me right. Katz cannot handle Orson and eventually euthanizes him. Katz made his money out of Orson by writing these books and then gave up on him. Considering the depth of feeling that Orson had for the author - I was left incensed and speechless at the end of A Good Dog. As an aside - the other border collie you are introduced to in a Dog Year is given to a new home because he doesn't fit with Katz either. So, before putting even more money into the coffers of a man who said that he could not justify spending money on Orson to find out what his issues were, I would refrain from spending money on this book.

This book made me very uncomfortable in many ways. I wanted to like the book and I wanted it to be heart-warming, but everything this author did caused more heartburn than warm fuzzies. He was perfectly happy with two yellow labs and a routine that suited them all but he couldn't help but adopt a border collie and ship him to his home in...suburban New Jersey!? My stomach turned. His "education" of the dog was a tad rough by his own admission, throwing metal choke chains and physically striking the what, 30 or 40 pound dog? I was a bit embarrassed for him for admitting it publicly. He put his yellow lab down when he still had many good days of playing and companionship ahead of him and was not in pain. His choice, but I felt a bit queasy. He caved in and brought a second border collie into the house against his better judgement. I wanted to scream. This must be a man who can't say no to all of those telemarketers. I am very happy things worked out for him in the end, but I still need antacids to get over the angst this book has given me.

I really wanted to love this book. How could I not with a picture of a Border Collie on the cover? After all, I am a border collie owner....an owner who adopted an abused border collie six years ago. To say that my life has changed for the better since then would be an understatement. Of course, these aren't feelings only reserved for owners of border collies as all of my friends who are dog owners feel the same way. There is a magic in having a dog in your life and I'm just happy to be so blessed.

With that said, it caused me to read this book with my own dog in mind judging the author's own decisions along the way. I just couldn't reconcile the idyllic life he had with Julius and Stanley (his Labrador Retrievers) and then bringing Devon (his adopted Border Collie) into the fray knowing full well that it would overturn the applecart. Once Devon arrived, I felt like Julius and Stanley were pushed to the side and relegated to the backyard, while Devon occupied all of their owner's time. Was this their reward for years and years of loyalty and companionship? Yes, it was great for the new addition to the family but at the expense of two dogs the author supposedly loved above all things.

As if that wasn't bad enough, Stanley begins to get sick...not sick enough that he wasn't enjoying life any longer. I read the section, where Jon takes all three dogs to the mountains so that Stanley could enjoy his last trip there, with a knot in my stomach knowing full well that, upon their return, he was going to have Stanley put to sleep. There's no way I could spend a glorious weekend romping in the woods with my dog, having him retrieve the ball he so loved knowing that his days were numbered because of a decision I was making.

Perhaps I'm being too critical but these two things took away from the overall enjoyment this book could have given me. In no way could I look my beloved border collie in her one blue and one brown eye and tell her not only that I was bringing someone else into our home who would change her life forever (and not for the better) and, as if that's not bad enough, there's no way I could drive her to the vet and put her down when she wasn't even close to no longer being a functional and loving pet. I know the author did a good job justifying these actions but this reader and this dog lover just didn't buy it.

Before you buy this book, you need to know that Devon, the Border Collie, is killed by Katz, as detailed in the later book "A Good Dog." Katz had his two yellow labs, Julius and Stanley, killed at the first sign of illness, before attempting any treatment. He tells Devon, on page 88, "I will never abandon you," playing up his promise to his dog as something solemn and sacred. Although I thought Katz did almost everything wrong in this book, I was willing to forgive it because he claimed he loved Devon and was dedicated to the best care of his "soulmate." Then I come to find out that Katz has written another book about having Devon killed, while the dog was young and in good health, for what Katz decided were insurmountable behavioral problems. This new book, A Good Dog, makes the argument that it is the moral responsiblity of dog owners to kill their pets at the first sign of trouble instead of spending money on training or medical treatment. For Katz, you had better be young, healthy, and happy, or you get the ax. This is a disgusting person who should not be allowed to own animals. He most definitely should not be viewed as an animal lover or an expert on animals. Do not buy any books written by Jon Katz.

I just discovered Mr.Katz's books and started with the Bedlam Farm book which I thought was good.(NOBODY DIES IN THAT BOOK). There were mentions of labs in that book so I got A DOG YEAR next....I am just so shocked and angry that someone would put a dog to sleep that they loved so much just because it was getting old. I have a 10 year old pug with her share of health issues which bring me to the vet sometimes on a weekly basis and I could not even dream of putting her "TO SLEEP" because of it....I had all his other books and the new one on my list of books to get and I think I will pass on those after reading this one and the other reviews of A GOOD DOG where someone else meets the same fate. Poor Stanley.

I don't read much so am irritated when I get stuck finishing such a rotten little book. This book is a self-interested rambling mess. The set up: Sedate middle age man gets feisty intelligent border collie because a breeder who read his book thought they were a good match (?). One internet search on border collies would provide enough information to tell him this breed was not a good fit. Border collies are intelligent and sensitive and need to be throughly trained. This usually require (demand) more time and effort than other breeds.

In the book we meet Devon when he gets loose in the crowded airport (Katz's fault). He boosted that the dog was a "champion border collie" to discourage an officer from calling in animal control. Although he had no experience with Devon, he was less concerned that a frightened dog would bite when cornered than passing up the chance to let strangers know he had a "special" dog. Katz's treatment of Devon is disturbing (yelling, throwing chains, hitting) as is his lack of judgement in letting Devon chase trucks. Regardless of the fact a barrier was in place, he was setting a dangerous precedent.

What's frustrating is that Katz had the money to pay professionals who would have trained both him and the dogs but didn't bother asking for help. Maybe having a dog that was miserable because it didn't know how it was expected to behave was more entertaining.

Katz should have stuck with labs. Less interesting book material but a better fit for his personality/lifestyle. He is making money from the misery his own dog ownership is imposing. Consider that purchasing his books will encourage him to spread tales of his poor actions and decisions.

"He was a two-year-old border collie of Australian lineage, well-bred but high-strung, and in big trouble." so starts this glorious book. I heard Jon Katz on NPR discuss his newest book, and knew I had to read his work. I decided to start with an older book of his to get the flavor of the writing and his message. This is a "cannot put down" book. A book filled with humour and fun and sadness and death.

Jon Katz believes strongly that if we are to take a dog into our lives, we must treat them as dogs, not as humans. Dogs do not know human behavior, and we should not treat them as such. And, if we love our dogs we will have them trained by someone legitimate, someone who understands dogs. Dogs need to learn to live in our people society.

Jon Katz had two lovely Labrador dogs, Julius and Stanley. Everyone loved them. They were the kind of dogs who are peaceful and contained. They loved everyone and actually liked to lick children's faces. They went everywhere with Jon and were well behaved. So, then, why did Jon feel an urge to bring into their lives a border collie who was untrained, wild and had not succeeded in his previous environment? You will come to understand. Jon was approached by a trainer who had read his books on dogs to take in this animal. Devon arrived from Texas on a wild and wooly night via airplane at a New Jersey airport. Jon waited for him and when his cage appeared, he unclasped the lock and zoom the dog was gone. Jon and the security guards spent the next 45mins trying to capture Devon. Finally, he was corralled and thus started the trial to tame Devon. Devon was a border collie, intelligent and curious, but he was the master and no one had been able to train him successfully. He needed to herd and he would run into the road trying to herd garbage trucks and buses. This just didn't work, He would run away and just at the time Jon started thinking it might be time to send Devon back to Texas- a miracle occurred.

Julius and Stanley were not loving Devon's arrival, but they tolerated him. Jon and the three dogs would go to an isolated area in New York State on a small farm and run free. Finally life seemed less stressful, and then the unexpected. One of the dogs becomes ill, and one of the most moving dog experiences I have ever read occurs. Tears dripping down my face I finished that chapter. And, then on to the arrival of Homer another border collie.

The lessons learned from this book about loving and living with dogs are significant. This is one of those books that help us to realize why animals are so important to our lives. So well written that I feel I know Jon Katz and I certainly know Julius, Stanley, Devon and Homer. Unabashedly recommended. prisrob

Like many other reviewers have stated, I too wanted to like this book. It was a very easy read, and as an avid dog lover, I really loved hearing the stories of Stanley, Julius and Devon.

HOWEVER, I felt that Mr. Katz seemed to view his pets as a disposable item. One gets sick, go get another. As one reviewer stated, it was pretty unfair of him to bring in this dog to upset the lives of his faithful and loyal labs. I felt like in his "adoption" of these dogs he made it seem as though he was such a selfless and thoughtful person, when in reality he was only doing it to make HIMSELF feel good.

I also didn't appreciate how patronizing he sounded when he spoke of people who adopted shelter animals and then had the audacity to say that those people ended up with dogs with behavioral problems. As a self-proclaimed "expert" he should know that a lot of behavioral problems in dogs come from the so-called purebred dogs.

All in all, I thought he came across as a little pompous.

Do not make the mistake of thinking this book is a training guide or how-to book for dog owners. Mr. Katz is, by nature, a story teller, and in this compact book, he weaves together observations and anecdotes during the course of a dog year, a year he pretty much devoted to his four dogs, a pair of aging labs and a pair of young border collies.

The striking differences in the dispositions of the labs and Devon, a troubled border collie he adopts sight unseen constitute much of the book's premise. Mr. Katz must come to terms with Devon, a dog that is totally different from his beloved, mellow labs---so different, that he soon earns the nickname "Helldog." In learning to train and love this high-strung, very intelligent new addition, he must confront his own notions of discipline, commitment, and duty. He does not always make the right decisions, but he willing lays out the consequences, right or wrong, for readers.

Though there may be lessons here for dog owners, and especially for potential dog owners, the book ultimately is a musing, and a good one, on looking honestly on life and death, seeing into one's own dark corners, and rejoicing on the primal bond between human and canine.

If nothing else, I would hope that Katz opens up some eyes about how much work and joy are intertwined in being a dutiful dog owner.

I have to admit I was underwhelmed by this book.I had issues both with the author's quick disposal of his wonderful labs and a breeder's
constant pushing of first one, and then two border collies on the author.

I wondered how responsible it is for a breeder to apparently nag someone repeatedly to take a dog based on reading a book they've written. Just because a book is non-fiction doesn't mean it's necessarily true, so I had a hard time with that breeder's actions. This was a man who reportedly had a perfect situation, working at home, with two wonderful labs that had been professionally trained and didn't need much attention from the author. So how did any breeder consider that this qualified him to handle a problem border collie with high needs? Tellingly, as soon as the labs had needs, they got the quick needle. Maybe it was right to let them go, but particularly with the lab with heart trouble, who could have had years of well managed life left, it didn't feel right to me.

His heavy handed training methods with the BC didn't sit well with me either. How is hitting or shouting at an already high strung nervous dog going to help him? This is the story of an man who wasn't qualified to turn this dog around and quickly proved he really couldn't. Instead he seems to identify, even glorify with the "helldog" as he terms him, as saving him from his midlife crisis and his staid labs. Katz dumped his labs just as he'd previously dumped his family to "run to the mountains", and instead of taking up with a bike or a mistress, used the dog as a midlife crisis prop. He made his newly termed "helldog" into a misfit so he could brag about how impossible he was and they could be two misfits together. At the least, if the dog wasn't a problem, would he have made as good copy?

It also seemed he was reaching pretty far to find something "profound" in the experiences in "A Dog Year" to make them worth being written up. I ended up with more disturbing questions about the owner and his misconceptions about dogs, and his mistreatment of them, than profound answers.
Pat